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Nick Dunlap (USA) was named Rookie of the Year.
Nick Dunlap is smiling while holding the trophy after winning the Rookie of the Year award. Photo by PGA Tour
The PGA Tour announced on the 19th (local time) that Dunlap received the most votes in the player poll for the top rookie of the year. Voting rights were given to players who participated in more than 15 tournaments this season. Dunlap secured 57% of the votes, beating fellow nominees Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp (both USA), and Mathieu Pavon (France).
Dunlap will receive the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Award given to the top rookie. At 20 years, 11 months, and 12 days old, Dunlap became the second youngest rookie of the year after Jordan Spieth (USA), who won the Arnold Palmer Award in 2013 at the age of 20 years and 2 months.
Dunlap is the protagonist of a remarkable record, having won as an amateur and then adding another victory after turning professional. While attending the University of Alabama, he won the American Express tournament last January. He was the first amateur champion in 33 years since Phil Mickelson (USA) won the Northern Telecom Open in 1991. After turning professional, he claimed another victory at the Barracuda Championship last July.
Dunlap is the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and then win again as a professional in the same season. Ranked number one in the amateur world rankings just before joining the PGA Tour, Dunlap won the 2021 US Junior Amateur Championship and the 2023 US Amateur Championship consecutively. He became the second player after Tiger Woods (USA) to win both tournaments. He said, "It has been an unbelievable journey and I am very grateful," adding, "I have learned more in the past year than when I was attending college."
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